Up Or Down (Wairarapa) Tararua Forest Park, North Island, New Zealand
By Skindo on 24-Oct-11. Waypoint GC36GPN

I started my tramp to Donnelly Flat and went further to the River Ridge Track.I had planned to do just a small loop, but when I arrived at Mountain House Shelter I decided to go for the summit and get my 800 caches today.So up to summit on a cloudy and rainy day. When I arrived at the top I was completely wet, so now all the way back to the carpark.In the end my trousers were almost dry again TFTC#802

Quick find of this oldie, great to have a few more for the skindo tally. Was about to thin out a layer but just ascended into the chill breeze. Thanks skindo, onwards

As described. Easy find. TFTC

Thanks Skindo for this cache, which I found on the trail to Mt Holdsworth. It's a classic. TNLNSL and TFTC

Went for a dads and sons trip to Totara Flats hut. It was showing some of the way which was quite nice. From the other trampers staying at the hut and from the look of the trail it looked like it was raining here pretty hard, which was very noticeable on the 2nd half, was quite intense with lots of roots and fresh mud. Took us about 4h:20 minutes to get to the hut. I wasnt planning to find any caches but I had offlined the area before hand. Didnt have a pen on hand as I wasnt expecting to find any caches on the track. I placed the cache carefully back as found. Cache is still in fair condition TFTC. Thanks skindo for placing this Traditional cache! skindo , ! 27 January 2024 at 4:22PM#836th Find

Thanks for the cache and greetings from Czechia

I’m about halfway between Holdsworth and Totara Flats now, and I really enjoyed this stretch of the track. Hoping it’s largely downhill from here! Quick find. Impressive fungi growing off the stump. TFTC

*Catching up on some loooooong overdue logs*

A call was put out in our puzzling group that there was going to be a hike into Totara Flats to hunt down T-2, as it is one of the oldest caches in the North Island, therefore required for the challenge cache GC325CX Old School Challenge. The group of willing participants are myself, Itchyfeet2020, Matagouri, TwigNZ, and The Seagnoid, so we are signing logs as LIMiTS.

A great time had by all, and some great caching along the way.
Thanks for the cache.

A group weekend in the eastern Tararuas, going from Holdsworth Lodge to the Waiohine campground via Gentle Annie Saddle and Totara Flats hut, with T-2 as our major target. The group includes LL113, Itchyfeet2020, myself, TwigNZ, and The Seagnoid, so we are signing logs as LIMiTS.
Found as per hint. All in good order. Good to get to the saddle. Very pleased that we're not heading to Powell Hut, cos it's starting to rain again. Took a photo of our team mascot on the sign.

The time has finally come for our much talked about T2 adventure - a very worthy objective. The plan was in from Holdsworth and out at Waiohine with Totara Flats Hut and all the lovely caches inbetween. What was also inbetween was a lot more leg jarring ups and downs than I expected! We choose down after this log and it didnt mess around - the track went DOWN! Im sure its more than we went up?? All logs signed as LIMITS for LL113, Itchyfeet2020, matagouri, TwigNZ and the Seagnoid.

Yay.... we made it to the fork in the road... KiwiKatieG, RedPandaNZ and DJB were with me for this grueling walk up the hill that never ends. Luckily we over half way up to Powell hut. TFTC

TFTC!

Found while out tramping in the area. With Kimmy+co and Mumandme. Enjoying my first trip in the Tararuas although slightly abridged due to the weather. TFTC

Ooh very soggy this. Just as well it's waterproof paper. Tftc.

The third find for Miss Eight and me on our two-night tramp around the Holdsworth-Jumbo loop. Found just where the hint said, after a quick search. Thanks!

#10,874. Todays mission was to climb up to Powell Hut to get another 800m+ elevation climb for the DGSC challenge cache. Just got three to go to complete the altitude challenge. So headed over early today from Wellington. After diverting off the highway to pick up the old signs cache I headed back along the ridge and to this junction where you could do down to Totara Flats (not today) or up to Powell Hut (yep more madness ahead). This cache was soon spotted (thanks to the hint) in a nice secure spot next to a busy path. Signed the logbook and replaced the cache where found. Thanks skindo for hiding a cache here. Been a while now since I last found one of your caches.

Thanks for the cache!

Sorry for the delay in logging. I’m in the process of finally logging all my old finds.

Continuing up towards power hut! This was a nice quick find

Tftc

Lovely day up in the mountains. Can finally log this now that I have premium. TFTC!

Beautiful day up here today, nice excuse for a stop! Log is very wet but still able to write on it. Destroyed the homes of a few arachnids I think. Lovely spot. TFTC

It was a beautiful day to be geocaching in the Holdsworth area and there were plenty of others on the track today. With the specific hint, I didn't expect any problem tracking down the cache and that is exactly how it panned out. TFTC, skindo.

Taking a group of girl guides up to Powell hut for the night. Tftc

Found it

It was UP today for us, to the snowy wonderland of Powell. Such perfect weather and time for a couple of caches in our way down. TFTC.

Summer Holiday Time yay! I'm spending 3 days tramping through the Tararuas around Mt Holdsworth.

Today we tramped up to Rocky Lookout, and then up to the Mountain House Shelter, before making our way back to our campsite near Mt Holdsworth Station. I am the only cacher in our party, so I'm trying to grab as many as I can but if they are not a quick find then I have to give up on them in order to catch up with the others who will have moved on ahead of me.

This was my second find of the day (I eventually found 7 out of 11 caches). A quick and easy find at GZ thanks to the Hint, and I was able to retrieve the cache and sign the log whilst my companions took a brief drinks break. Then it was onwards and upwards lol!

Thanks for placing this cache.

Woohoo

I have been meaning to grab this cache for such a long time, but usually switch my brain off as soon as I reach the bush and then just wander by without remembering. On the one recent occasion where I was determined to make a find I arrived here to find 30+ school kids and their guides having lunch. No problems today though. I only met one other hiker around Rocky Lookout the whole way up. The cache was easily and quickly found. Luckily the log is waterproof, as the cache was very damp including inside the plastic bag. Signing it was still possible though and I have added a "rain hat" to add some protection before winter arrives. TNLNSL TFTC

Easy find during breather stop on day trip to Powell Hut
Thanks

My son found this one quickly thanks to a great hint. Great spot for a rest after a long walk in deep snow from Jumbo Hut. Thanks for another great cache Skindo!

Found it a few months ago but didn't log it on here by the looks! Quick find thanks.

Would be a lovely spot for a stop on a fine day. Have managed to scribble my name on a very wet piece of scrap paper that was inside the cache. Could do with new water proof log. TFTC

Found without GPS on our walk today. Logbook to wet to log, so took photo log. Thanks for this one

Out this weekend tramping in the Tararua Forest Park via the Waiohine Gorge and Mount Holdsworth. Real slog up to this one from Totara Flats. Nice and quick find though! TFTC!

I went both ways! Made a great round walk so saw this cache twice. Was very lucky to get a beautiful clear, if windy, day on the top.

Lucky for me as I was only here for the weekend!
Tftc

Nice quick find during a Holdsworth --> Waiohine Gorge tramp. The downhill from here to Totara Flats was very challenging!

A super day to go for a walk in the lovely Holdsworth area of the Wairarapa, a great place to stop and take a breath before heading onto the next location. It was a quick find here a bit muddy but nothing to stop us getting a cache. signed the log and placed it back a bit more covered up as it was a bit in the open for muggles to see. A nice spot for a picnic. cache was all good here. TFTC now off to the shelter for lunch. then down to the river and back to the lodge for tea.

Stopping for a well-deserved rest and to allow the other members of the party to catch up. Coords were a couple of metres off but the hint was spot on. TFTC

Quick find on the way out this morning after completing the loop. TFTC!

My choice was down today as I was headed for Totara Flats and the Waiohine River. A great little spot, and the seats are a great feature too.

TFTC

Xmas eve walk and the weather is improving. Tftc

Found while on school camp as parent help. Nice hide, walk to Mountain shelter (I remember when it was Mountain House and there were some local four legged and tail occupants). Container a little wet, log signable. Cashe was in plan view so placed a little (200mm) to left in slightly less, may have been the original/correct location, place. TFTC

Doing the loop walk today with a school group. Not a great day for it with most of the trip done in the rain. Otherwise an enjoyable walk.

A quick find to introduce the class group to geocaching. TFTC

Picked up a bug and will move on

A quick find while heading for Powell Hut with Raumati Scouts.

#2123 from here jojo&dobby and I headed down the new Gentle Annie Track while Yeetrees and CartertoniC headed the up to go down later and then on to get a first to find on a recent cache I had placed - Leprechaun's Tree Growth. For those new to the area, there are many caches in between

We had arrived here after coming up a steep climb, down to Gentle Annie Saddle and then up to Carrington Ridge. It was a great day out - can't believe the weather this year. A little windy, however dry - and it is mid June !!!!

Dropped Wedding Crashers TB.

Thanks for this cache. Now back to the car park.

my knee is giving me a hard time so the decision has to be down

Exactly as described, many thanks - took the opportunity to have another rest on the benches before continuing the long slog up the hill. TFTC.

Cache # 3,142 - a quick find on the way up to Powell Hut with Infoferret. Find #9 already for the day. TNLNSL. TFTC!

Found as we made our way upward on Holdsworth, destined for Powell Hut and thence to the Holdsworth-Jumbo circuit. Might we find our way to Angle Knob and beyond I wondered as I slogged uphill.
It was a warm, cloudy and humid afternoon. I was pretty warm and humid too!
Needless tyo say, it was "up" for us on this occasion.
We made a straightforward find on the cache; signed the log, and then safely re-hidden, just as found.
TFTC found with team cacher Sweet P too
The Turtle strikes again!

Heading up to Powell Hut, and stopped here along the way, brilliant day, and all is good with the cache, TFTC

Heading to Powell Hut with a bunch of Scouts.
Nice spot to stop for a break.
TFTC

Definitely down !!

Another good rest area after walking up from Totara Flats. Nice downhill stroll to the Holdsworth end of the trail.

TFTC !

About now - down would have been preferable! Quite windy, and starting to get wet... oh and it is dark! TFTC

Quick find, had a brief scroggin stop and then more up. TFTC

The last cache of the day for us as we needed to pick up the pace to make it back to the car park before dark. So the choice for us was definitely down!
A very long & tiring day, but awesome!!!
Left a pet rock - a hedgehog. TFTC skindo

Arrived at Mt Holdsworth and Totara Flats junction and following the given hint quickly had the cache in hand. Signed and replaced.

Quick find on a walk of the Mountain House loop. Lovely day and so few people. tftc

Quick find on a Sunday walk to Powell. Tftc

1105
with Jax479. TFTC

Found on way down. Tftc

Quick sunday walk with brother. Tftc

Tftc, log book is wet.

I walked up to Rocky Lookout in July last year. With some new caches further up since then, I decided to return to search these out, a day-walk. I walked up Gentle Annie to Powells Hut, Mt Holdsworth trig, and then up to Jumbo Junction for an unfound cache. I walked back down via Jumbo Hut, very steep and hard going for my old legs. I found 15 caches today on this trek. Thanks for this cache skindo.

I set off early today from Holdsworth to head out to Totara Flats and return again the same way - with the main purpose of my hike being to find the old 'T-2' cache. It was a very long day hiking in the Tararuas, but was a fantastic day out, with great scenery and bird life. After a quick find of this cache, the only option for me was 'down' to Totara Flats. TFTC!

Found on a tramping trip from Holdsworth to Walls Whare with four St Orans doing a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition. Very low temperatures around - 5C but the rain held off. TFTC

Found on a tramping trip from Holdsworth to Walls Whare with four St Orans doing a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition. Very low temperatures around - 5C but the rain held off. TFTC

First of the day on a 23 km walk in the park with Tramper Ted and Yeetrees. A quick find in the second place checked on the way towards the Mountain House shelter. Signed log, TFTC

For this weekend the forecast was better and we decided go to Mt. Holdsworth. First day we just went to Powell Hut and hoped tomorrow is gonna be a better day for going to the top. In the morning it was still raining but we still went to the top of Mt. Holdsworth and then we quickly went down via a diferent route. On top of the hill was a very bad weather and we saw just fog and rain . Regardless I really enjoyed every cache I found during the trip. Thanks.

Quick find at a nice spot. Tftc

Found with CaligulaNZ and Comandercon2 on the first day of a two day scout tramp from Holdsworth to Walls Whare, via Totara flats.

Had to let some muggles finish lunch first.

TFTC!

Found on a two-day scout tramp from Holdsworth to walls Whare, via Totara flats.
Quickly found at GZ ... once we had allowed some muggles to take a break and move on towards Powell Hut.

TFTC!
with Comandercon2 & some of the Orsome4some.

Easy to find.

on way to Totara flats. Tftc

Tftc! Beautiful forest to get up here. Now for down...

I have found that cache on a day trip in the Tararua mountains. I tramped the Holdsworth - Jumbo - Circuit that day and found 9 caches, 1 coin, met 5 Kākās, a lot of other trampers and 3 dogs and I had perfect weather conditions. Finally, an awesome day! TFTC

[green] Up here with a couple of teenagers. Their school camp option got cancelled, so I'm taking them tramping. The plan was Powell then Jumbo, then lunch at Atiwhakatu on the way out. But the weather turned seriously poo, so we skipped Jumbo and just made it a two day trip. On the way in it was hot, very light rain - we kept putting our raincoats on and taking them off again.
The GPS was all over hte show here. Not suprising, given that we are so high in the sky we are walking inside clouds (or is it that the clouds are low?). It gave the place a very ethereal feel, trees disappearing into mist. Anyway I gave up on the GPS. Where would I hide it? There!

Found with Ozzawazza- a short welcome sit before the real ups begin TFTC

As the pic shows nice seats to contemplate your decision, Up or Down, but if you are planning to go up be prepared. TFTC

Fabulous day for a walk up here today - warm and sunny if a little windy! Up today I think... and on to Mountain Shelter. TFTC!

#450. Easy find without the GPS.
On walk to Totara Flats Hut.
TFTC

A nice quick find on our day trip up the Gentle Annie and down East Holdsworth. Thanks for the cache.

We were heading down when we got to what must be the fanciest seats that we have ever come across on a New Zealand tramping track. They wouldn't be out of place in the centre of a city! I wanted a rest, having walked up the Atiwhakatu Track and then to Mountain House before heading down to Gentle Annie, but it was too cold due to the location in the bush, so only sat there long enough for Mrs B to find the cache and for me to sign the log. A muggle couple passed by while I was signing and told me that the track has been benched all the way to Powell Hut!!! No more rock climbing near the top. Will make it a bit easier next time we head up that way, certainly every year it is getting a bit harder. Still plenty of real tramping tracks left in the Tararuas for the fit and young . TFTC

Found after while doing the Mountain House Atiwhakatu Track loop with some of the Wednesday group from the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club. The rest of the group went on up to Powell. TNLN. TFTC.

found it FINALLY TFTC didnt need gps:)

Nice easy clue and nice easy find thanks. i was going down heading for totara Flats hut for the night, glorious day great to be in the cool of the trees.

Found it straight away.TFTC

Easy find on the way up on a nice day

Found with Blossom. TFTC

Continuing the story of the day, just after we had retrieved the cache, a young family walked up! We had a bit of a chat and off they went so i could sign the log and return it We had such a lovely day on this walk. It was a cool and damp day with gale-force winds blowing through the treetops but we were quite protected down in the forest. Top cache on a top walking track

Out for a family walk and remembered there was once a cache about here.
Found on first attempt without GPS or hint!
Lovely day for a walk...

Super quick find with the hint. Gps pointed in opp direction! Beautiful day for a tramp, glad for a cool breeze finally

Found on our .nz trip, tftc

Heading up this track with a large group of Thursday trampers from the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing club. First cache find on the track today and no problems, always a bonus, thanks skindo.

2nd cache stop for us on the Atiwhakatu/Mountain House circuit today. Have not yet tramped the "down" option here but it looks like it could be a good tramp too.
Fairly straightforward seach here with good GPS signal albeit in fairly decent undergrowth. It looks like the hint object is now more of the wooden rather than rocky variety, unless it's a piece of petrified wood. TFTC Skindo

Was so stoked to find this. I planned a trip up to Powell hut after work and thought I would get some caches on the way. At the park realised I hadnt put the caches into my gps (a newbie at this, made a mistake when downloading) so had no idea on what to look for or where to look. Just the memory that it was at this junction. I had the same problem at Rocky Point so didnt even bother to look. But this time I thought, I would look. I did a 360 and thought I will start "there" found it in 10 secs. What amazing luck.lol Thanks for the find.

Good excuse for a rest on the way up to Powell. Quick and easy find - thanks.

Quick find on our way up to Mountain house. Thanks

TNLcoin

Great to havr this on the path up to Holdsworth